Ole Miss Concert Singers will reunite for Oxford performance
Published 11:12 am Thursday, February 2, 2017
For just the fourth time in the last 15 years, the world-renowned University of Mississippi Concert Singers will gather for a reunion and perform for the public in Oxford. The free concert is scheduled for Saturday night at 7 in North Oxford Baptist Church.
More than a 100 singers have registered for the three-day reunion that begins tonight with a rehearsal at the church. Many of them are from the first choir in 1980.
“I am so excited to see all of my students again,” said Jordan, who led the Ole Miss Concert Singers for 21 years as director. “For 21 years I had the power of all those voices at my fingertips and we traveled the world together. The bonding this created is hard to comprehend.”
In 21 years of traveling the world, the Concert Singers made 11 tours of Europe and captured six international choral competitions — more than any other American university choir.
Jordan retired from Ole Miss in 2001, but the choir got together in 2002 when approximately 60 former members found out the week before that a few alums planned on visiting the Jordans for a weekend at their Birmingham home and decided also to come. The group rehearsed and performed that weekend at South Highlands Presbyterian Church.
In 2006 and 2013, approximately 125 singers came to relive their years in the group. They performed at North Oxford Baptist Church where the group regularly performed.
“In 2006 and 2013, we still had the old flair,” said Jordan, Professor Emeritus at the University of Mississippi.
The Concert Singers will be joined by a male group of Jordan alums — Blue Ten Harmony, who continue to perform together.
The reunion will also feature compositions by long-time music faculty member Ray Liebau composed for the group. Liebau will be at the concert and will be honored for his contribution to the success of the Concert Singers.
“We won’t have much time to rehearse but I think we’ll still have it Saturday night,” Jordan said. “I believe the public will enjoy hearing many of our old favorites from classical to popular to spirituals.”
For more information about the reunion or Saturday night’s concert, visit www.concertsingers.com.